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Educare

Educare

FEBRERO 2007 N° 2 Volumen 5

Physical exercise in old age

Section: LEARNING TO TEACH

Authors

Eva Mª García Peña, Elena Martínez Burruchaga

Position

Alumnas EUE “La Fe”, Valencia.

Contact address

Avenida Campanar, 21. 46009 Valencia.

Abstract

If we take into account that regular exercise and sports are regarded a very healthy practice that can prevent or even treat some psychological and physical diseases, and that in some cases it can actually help in the rehabilitation process, the obliged question to ask is whether the advantages of exercise are also applicable to the elderly and with what frequency?

It is known that physical activity in day-to-day routines declines as we get older. Nonetheless, the question remains: Is the loss of such activity level related to age or does it have to do with other social factors that force the elderly stay less active than what his real ability permits? It is also interesting to assess whether this loss of physical ability (and with it a decreased frequency of exercise) is the same in men as women.

Keywords:

physical activity; benefits of physical exercise; elderly peoplephysical exercise

Versión en Español

Título:

El ejercicio físico en la vejez